Retractable Y-shaped foils, adjustable in three dimensions

Inspired by the appendages of the America's Cup foiling monohulls, these Y-shaped foils have a wingspan of over 5 metres. They are designed to generate powerful lift, increase power and offer a wide range of adjustments to optimise flight at every point of sail and in all conditions. Beyond their impressive size, these foils feature many unique innovations.

Revolutionary U-shaped rudders

These are probably the most visually striking innovations on the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. To fly high above rough seas while maintaining control, the team wanted very long rudders that would remain in contact with the water. The challenge is that longer rudders tend to flex under load, severely affecting steering and the efficiency of their lifting surfaces. A new geometry was needed to give these appendages maximum stiffness, resist cavitation and ultimately improve control of the boat and make better use of its power. The result is a set of U-shaped rudders over 4 metres long, a metre longer than those on Gitana 17. Their shape, reminiscent of a tripod or an inverted π, is only the visible part of what makes them so distinctive.

A daggerboard optimised to stabilise the boat and limit cavitation

With its wide span, the daggerboard resembles an aircraft tail assembly, with two adjustable flaps: one on the vertical section and the other on the horizontal section, the distinctive “manta-ray wing”. On Gitana 18, the innovation is to position this wing behind the vertical part of the appendage, rather than directly beneath it, to minimise flow disturbance and cavitation.

Rig: adjustable spreaders to control mainsail power while sailing

Gitana 18’s mast is 1.50 metres taller than its predecessor’s. The boom is also shorter, creating a more slender sail plan. The major innovation is a set of spreaders that can be adjusted while sailing to bend the mast fore and aft. Actuated by hydraulic rams, these spreaders can pivot through 35 degrees to adjust the bend in the middle of the mast. This unprecedented system allows the sailor to control mainsail power: adding depth in light winds to take off sooner, or flattening the sail to reduce power at high speed or in strong winds. Adjusting the depth, and therefore the power, of the mainsail can also save a solo sailor time and energy by reducing the need for risky manoeuvres or headsail changes.

Central hull:
an integrated, structural coachroof

The naval architects and Gitana design team wanted an exceptionally stiff, structurally robust platform. This applies both to the floats, which must withstand heavy loads from the foils and rudders, and to the central hull, which is subject to torsion. The enclosed coachroof is integrated into the hull and contributes to its structural strength. Inside, the cockpit brings all sail-handling controls together, with ergonomics shaped by many hours of design and development. The coachroof also stands out for the number and size of its windows. This configuration meets the visibility requirements of the Ultim class rules and gives sailors the best possible view to keep a visual watch.

06.09.2008

The SE’ly tradewind in their sails.

With all their sails aloft, the maxi-catamaran in the colours of the LCF Rothschild Group is now benefiting from some fine conditions, slipping along in a SE'ly air flow characteristic of the southern hemisphere. Positioned in this vein of wind, Lionel Lemonchois and his men are continuing their climb towards the equator and are already considering…

par Gitana

With all their sails aloft, the maxi-catamaran in the colours of the LCF Rothschild Group is now benefiting from some fine conditions, slipping along in a SE’ly air flow characteristic of the southern hemisphere. Positioned in this vein of wind, Lionel Lemonchois and his men are continuing their climb towards the equator and are already considering how they’re going to negotiate the famous doldrums. The passage they choose will determine the course adopted by Gitana 13 over the coming days.

Yesterday the 33 metre maxi-catamaran was flirting with the shores of Namibia; an opportunity for the crew to admire the desert and the enchanting landscape of this obscure country. Rather than the contemplation though, the men aboard Gitana 13 had come in search of some acceleration in the tradewind, observed along the coast: “The wind climbed as far as 35 knots and Gitana 13 was sailing under small gennaker with one reef in the mainsail at the time. Since then we’ve got back into a more classic tradewind pattern with 15 to 20 knots and all the sails on deck. The seas have calmed a great deal but there’s still a slight undulation, which reminds us that the southern lows are circulating just south of us” explained Dominic Vittet.

Whilst the crew have benefited from the glorious weather and the mild sailing conditions to perform a general clean-up aboard Gitana 13 – washing down of the companionways with bleach, assiduous tidying of the living areas, organisation of the food for the rest of the voyage …-, Lionel Lemonchois has set about with the repairs of the forward section of the starboard beam. The onboard navigator describes this operation to us, whilst recognising the technical talents of their captain: “Lionel can to do anything with those ten fingers of his… he’s a perfectionist and has a real passion for DIY. He’s built two 6.50 (boats for the Mini-Transat) from his own hands and was the préparateur for a number of sailors (Isabelle Autissier, Catherine Chabaud …). Assisted by David in the preparation of the material, Lionel has laminated the exterior skin of the starboard hull, with the help of a strip of carbon and resin, in order to make the crack watertight. This forms the initial part of the repairs, as over the coming days, once the water ingress has been evacuated, he’ll proceed with the interior repairs to the wound.”

At this time of year, winter reigns in the southern hemisphere, in contrast to the northern hemisphere which is slowly leaving summer… Though this has made the task of rounding South Africa more complicated for the sailors of Gitana Team, today it’s an advantage. Indeed, the SE’ly tradewind which extends beyond the equator at this time of year, will rapidly propel Gitana as far as the edge of the doldrums, an area situated at around 4 degrees north and still some 2,400 miles away this morning.
According to the latest estimates from Sylvain Mondon, router for Gitana Team, the return to the northern hemisphere of the maxi-catamaran equipped by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild is scheduled for four days’ time, on around 11th September. In the meantime though, Lionel Lemonchois and his men will have to make what is always a very tricky decision of where to pass through the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone.

A few figures
Gitana 13 left Hong Kong on Thursday 14th August at 07h55’32” (UT)
Saturday 6th September at 0824 hours UT, Gitana 13 was sailing at 22°46.48 S / 10°33.36 E

Watch No1: Lionel Lemonchois (Skipper / watch leader / helmsman) / Olivier Wroczynski (trimmer /head of computers and power) / David Boileau (Bowman / head of deck fittings)
Watch No.2: Ludovic Aglaor (watch leader / helmsman) / Laurent Mermod (trimmer) / Ronan Le Goff (Bowman)
Watch No.3: Pascal Blouin (Watch leader / helmsman) / Ronan Guérin (trimmer) / Léopold Lucet (No.1, head of supplies and doctor)
Outside the watch system: Dominic Vittet (navigator)

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